Bell-cord coupling



(No Model.)

H. G. KENNEDY. BELL CORD COUPLING.

No. 440,094. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

A T TOR/IE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFI-CE HORACE G. KENNEDY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BELL-CORD COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,094, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed July 25, I890. Serial No. 359,954. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORACE G. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bell-Oord Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a device for uniting the extremities of bell cords or ropes, and though designed more especially for use on cable or electric street-cars, where trail-cars are used, may be used in the many and varied relations in which the extremities of bell-cords are united.

In the use of cable and electric cars of the class stated it is customary at the terminus of the line, or at the point where they wish to begin to retrace their course, to uncouple the cars, switch the grip-car or motor-oar past the trailer, and couple their opposite extremities for the return-trip. Quite frequently it occurs that the bell cord or rope is overlooked or forgotten, the result being that the cord is pulled in two orbroken. The object, therefore, of my improvement is to provide a bellcord fastener or a means for uniting the extremities of the bell-cords of the difierent cars, saiddevice to be so constructed that while adapted to hold the extremities of the cords together firmly enough and make a union sulficiently strong for all ordinary purposes shall at the same time be capable of being separated or disjoined by a direct pull of less force than the force required to break the cord, the device being, however, easily joined or disjoined bya person manipulating the same.

To these ends my invention is of simple and economical construction, reliable and durable in use, and efficient for the purpose intended; and it consists in the features and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings is illus trated an embodiment of my invention, where- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the device, together with the extremities of the ropes which it unites; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of the device, a portion of the spring being broken away to show the interior construction; Fig. 3, a side view of a modified form of the device, the internal construction being partially shown in dotted lines.

Referring now to these views, the reference-numeral 5 designates the extremities of the cords, which are united by the device. Fixedly secured to one of these extremities 5 of the cords that are to be united is a piece 7, the manner of securement herein shown and considered as typical of any approved means consisting of a suitable socket made in one extremity of piece 7, into which the extremity 5 of one of the cords is inserted, said cord being secured therein by means of a screw or pin 6, passing through or partially through the socket and into or through the cord 5.

In the under side of piece 7 is made a suitable notch or recess adapted to receive lug or ridge 4, as hereinafter described. The free extremity of piece 7 is beveled or sloped on its upper side substantially as shown in the drawings, thereby rendering easier the manipulation of the device whenever it is desired to unite or disjoin the two parts of the cord, as may bedesired.

Part of piece 1, into which piece 7 is adapted to catch,is fixedly secured to the extremity 5 of the cord to which it is desired to unite the extremity of the cord to which piece 7 is secured. This part 1 is secured to its extremity 5 of the cord in the same ora similar manner as part 7 is secured to its extremity 5 of the cord-namely, by inserting the extremity into a suitable socket therefor and passing a screw or pin 6 through the shell of the socket and into or through the cord.

Part 1 is grooved or slotted on its upper side, said slot or groove extending through part 1 at its rear portion, or at the portion thereof more remote from the free extremity of said part, while at or near said free extremity is left atransverse ridge or elevation 4 of a size and shape adapting it to enter and fit within the recess made in the under side of.

part 7, as hereiubefore described. It will be observed that the upper sides or boundaryplanes of this ridge or elevation 4 are inclined with reference to the upper and lower surfaces of part 1, while the surface of the notch in the under side of part 7 is shaped to correspond, the object thereof being to allow them to be united or disjoined at will, and also to allow the parts to be separated by a pull, the force of which is less than the breaking tension of the cord or of the coupling device, thereby preventing breakage of any of the parts.

The reference-numeral 2 designates a suitable leaf-spring rigidly secured to the top of piece 1 by a screw 3 or in any approved manner, said spring extending over the slot or groove made in part 1 and being adapted to hold part 7 firmly in position in the groove or slot in part 1 whenever the parts are united. The forward extremity of spring 2 is bent or curved upward or outward, so as to render the process of uniting parts 1 and 7 more easy and convenient.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3 the free extremity of spring 2 is provided with a hook 8, the remaining parts being like those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The object of this hook on spring 2 is to afford a suitable means of attaching the device to the bell whenever the extremity of the cord having part 1 is to be secured to the bell. This particular form of the device is designed for use on cars on which there is a hell on each end of the grip or motor car. In this case both extremities of the cord passing through the grip or motor car is provided with the part 1 of the device shown in Fig. 3, while each extremity of the cord passing through the trailer is provided with a part 7. Then whenever the direction of the cars is reversed the hook on the forward extremity of the cord is hooked into the hell on the forward extremity of the car, and the part 7 on the forward extremity of the cord passing through the trailer is united with the part 1 on the rear extremity of the cord passing through the grip or motor car. v

From the description given with reference to the accompanying drawings it will be readily seen that quitea hard pull willbe required to separate the parts when pulled in a direct line, while the parts may be easily disjoined bybending the parts together from the spring, when part 7 acts as a lever of the first class and raises the spring sufficiently to permit the part to escape from its position within part 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A bell-cord coupling consisting of two members 1 and 7, member 1 consisting of two partsnamely, a casing and a spring closing one side thereof, the casing being provided on the interior of the side opposite the spring with a cam-me1nber 7 consisting of a single partto wit, a tongue having a recess, the tongue being adapted to enter the casing, the cam of the one engaging the recess of the other, whereby a coupling is formed having only one yielding side, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A bell-cord coupling consisting of a casing open on its upper side and provided with a suitable leaf-spring so secured to the casing as to cover said opening, said spring having HORACE G. KENNEDY.

WVitnesses:

WM. McCoNNELL, FRED. XV. FELDWISOH. 

